Ski Boots

From Fiswiki

Ski boots are robust footwear developed especially for skiing, offering protection against jolts and bumps as well as injury from ski edges and other external causes. The ski boot encloses the foot firmly, while at the same time allowing the movement necessary for skiing techniques, in that the ankle has the room it needs to move, but at the same time allowing the transfer of every steering movement completely to the ski.

Ski boots are robust footwear developed especially for skiing, offering protection against jolts and bumps as well as injury from ski edges and other external causes.

The ski boot encloses the foot firmly, while at the same time allowing the movement necessary for skiing techniques, in that the ankle has the room it needs to move, but at the same time allowing the transfer of every steering movement completely to the ski.

Ski Boot Parts

Modern ski boots provide good foot support. Basic ski boots nowadays have the following parts:

Ankle flexpoint Usually a flat bolt, allows the skier to move forward and change stance when skiing.

Boot Buckle These are the devices that tighten the outer boot to the foot. Most ski boots have five or four buckles.The buckles are what latch the ski boot closed. While there are many styles of buckles, the key components are the ladder, the bail, and the buckle itself. The ladder is the graduated rung that the bail, or wire, hooks onto so that the buckle can close to latch the boot tightly around the foot or ankle. Ski boots may have as many as four buckles, each drawing the boot tightly around a different segment of the foot or ankle.

Boot liner The liner goes inside the shell, and is where the foot fits. Depending on the liner material,it can tend to be thinner or thicker. The best quality boots are lined with natural wool liners. Most liners have a set of laces of their own.

Boot Sole The bottom of the boot that makes contact with the ski and binding is called the boot sole. Since this is the primary junction point between the boot and the ski it is critical to preserve its condition. Walking on hard surfaces can damage the boots’ sole changing the interaction between the boot and the binding reducing performance and safety. Toe and heel lugs are the portion of the sole that the binding grips onto. Some ski boots have replaceable lugs. This can save you some money if your boots sustain substantial wear and tear but it is better to simply protect the soles of your boots by covering them (Cat Tracks are a great product that cover and protect the soles of your boots) or refraining from walking around in your boots.

Entry Point Most common Skiing Boots have either top or rear entry. Rear entry boots allow you to slide your foot into the boot from the rear. One or two clips are used for fastening the boot and adjusting the fit. Top entry boots use more clips and you need to insert your foot from the top. Mid-entry boots have both a flexible front and back side allowing you to slip your foot into the boot in the middle. In general, rear entry boots are easier to use but top entry boots give more support. Nevertheless, both Ski Boots have top end models that give both great comfort and fit.

Flex Adjustment This adjustment allows you to change the amount of resistance to the forward movement of your ankle. You can make this flex stiffer or softer. People often use this feature to compensate the flexibility changes of the boot under cold and warm weather conditions.

Footbed is the removable platform inside the liner of the ski boot on which the foot rests. Custom footbeds are those molded by a bootfitter to conform to the shape of the skier’s sole for better fit and more precise energy transfer.

This allows you to change the angle that your shin makes with the boot closed. By using this adjustment, you are able to change your stance and center of mass.

Grab loop on top of the tongue. This loop will help putting the boots on. It´s strongly sewn to the body of the outer shell tongue.

Lateral Upper-cuff Adjustment: An adjustment on some ski boots that allows the user to shift the upper boot. Useful for bowlegged or knock-kneed people who need to adjust their upper boot to the angle of their lower legs.

Ramp Angle Adjustment Some boots allow you to change the angle in which your feet rest on the sole of your boot. In this way, you are able to shift your center of mass forward or backward.

Ski-Walk Adjustment This adjustment allows the boot's upper cuff to hinge backward. This will give you the room you need for a more natural walking motion. Although this is a handy feature, most skiers choose for a more solid rear in favor of walking comfort.